Can't Wait For LAX Season...

Four weeks 'til lacrosse season starts...get pumped watching these electrifying plays from Chazz Woodson

Instruments of Pain

This was my view last week as I was about to get a tooth fixed..



I post this on the eve of my daughter getting her braces...As she will be known henceforth as Tinsel Teeth, Brace Face, and Metal Mouth for the next two years!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Here is my NYE 2008 Playlist featuring some songs that received a lot of playtime this year. Now you can listen, close your eyes and pretend you are here celebrating New Year's Eve like in years past. Speaking of pretending, my 2008 Song of the Year is Track #5 by MGMT "Time to Pretend"....Enjoy

Wish You Were Here...

In typical Christmas Eve fashion there were plenty of delectables on hand..



World Famous Antipasto











Assorted Cheese Platter











Gram's Struffoli perfected by Nonni













Shrimp Cocktail - Old Standby












Fresh Fruit looks good











Mozzarella Stix for the Kiddies

Cold Cut platter if you care for a sandwich












Sweets by Susie












Someone stole one of Brenda's Cupcakes!

A Look Under The Covers

I mentioned my affection for a nice dub, as well as a well crafted sample. Now on to a nice cover. I have come to appreciate covers in my old age in part due to the fact that the songs being covered are songs from my youth. There were some real nice covers this past year. Now I'm not saying these are better than the orignals, but they're damn close...

Famous Ray's

Or is it Ray's Famous? No matter, it's all good. The Famous Ray's Pizza of New York is a destination stop in Verona, NJ. What do I mean by "destination stop"? It means that if you are anywhere within a 10 miles radius of the joint you must make the trip...it's that good. Now as any pizza aficionado knows, pizza is all good. Some like it thin, some like it thick. Ray's would be filed under thick.

It Really Wasn't That Hard

My nubbie posts have been far and few between; But the past three weeks weren't totally wasted...Since my puzzle was spread out on the dining room table, I was under the gun to finish before Thanksgiving. In the words of Mr. Bush: "Mission Accomplished". And it really wasn't that hard.

Mmmm....

Made my first stop of the year at Mr. McGregor's Garden in Jobstown. I can never just ride by without stopping. They had a wide variety of pies, with the standard apple and pumpkin, some pecan. I selected the blueberry, just out of the oven and still warm. Topped off with a few dollops of vanilla bean and you're on your way to feelin' alright...

Stress Relief

The second best thing for stress relief...



1000 pieces to keep me busy for the next week or so...

Levi Stubbs' Tears

Thanx to Ant for the news in the comments from the last post. The news is timely in that I will be seeing Billy Bragg for the 8th time this Sunday nite...


Ant and I saw Billy for the first time I think in 1984 at the Lone Star Cafe in NYC for what I believe was his first US visit.



(photo by Ant)

I am sure he will be mentioning the passing of Motown legends Norman Whitfield and Levi Stubbs, as they are mentioned here in the classic "Levi Stubbs' Tears"

"Norman Whitfield and Barratt Strong
Are here to make everything right that's wrong
Holland and Holland and Lamont Dozier too
Are here to make it all okay with you"

and the chorus..

"When the world falls apart some things stay in place
Levi Stubbs' tears run down his face"


Take it away Billy...